New Zealand’s Waikato River originates
in theNorth Island’s Lake Taupo, making
itswaynorthwardfor425kilometers
throughthelushgreenWaikatodistrict
beforemeetingtheTasmanSea.Atthe
hub ofthis fetile farm centerlies Hamilton,
New Zealand’s largest inlandcity, a city
witha tradition of ballooning.
In1990 a smallbandof balloonists,
ledb yDian neMcKee,gatheredin
HamiltonholdingNewZealand’sfirst
balloon event, New Zealand Hot Air Bal-
loonFiesta, and organizingthe country’s
first balloon club. The event evolved over
the years into an award winning showcase
for Hamilton andthe Waikatoregion.
On the surface all seemed to be going
well. In its fourth year the event was taken
overbyaprofessionalpromoter.This
year wastobe the tenthanniversaryand
what promised to be a big celebration. But
notallparticipantswerehappywiththe
directiontheeventhadtaken.Thatdis-
content revolved around how the balloon-
ists were being treated.
Separately the promoter was negoti-
ating with the City of Hamilton over how
the city’s $35,000contribution would be
spent.Thecitywanteditallspenton
special shapeballoons. Thepromoter only
wantedto use a small portionfor shapes.
Four weeksbeforetheeventtalksbroke
down and the promoter took the event to
another town,including the major spon-
sor whowas under contract to him.
WhilethevastmajorityofNew
Zealand’s balloonists were caught by sur-
prise, they quickly adjusted their plans to
attend the event in a newlocation. But not
all.
Several balloonists felt that thepeople

Balloons
Over
Waikato

by Tom Hamilton

ofHamiltondeservedbettertreatment
and began to organize among themselves
to fly the region during the week origi-
nally scheduled for the event. The same
week another event would be going on
several hours to the south.
With only two weeks to go a phone
call was made tothe Waikato Chamber of
Commerce. Amodestpromise of help for
the balloonists turnedinto anamazing
outpouring of support from the commu-
nity. In a short time more than $25,000 in
contributionswerecommitted.What
looked like a lost balloon event turned
intoa smallgathering of ten balloonsand
a new event—Balloons Over Waikato.
As the organization came together I
received a phone callinvitingme to fly in
and cover the event.
I was last in Hamilton for the third
Fiesta, flying balloons and representing
its sister city Sacramento, then home to
Balloon Life. Having enjoyed the beauti-
ful region and making many new friends,
I was excitedto return.
The Waikatoliesin New Zealand’s
area of the “weird and wonderful.” Bub-
blingmudpoolsandtwinklingglow-
worms; captivating Maori culture and Art
Deco architecture; emerald national park
forestsandburgeoningvineyards;snow
skiing and trout fishing.
Lessthanone weekafterI received
the phonecallI aminAucklandhelping
commercialballoonstetherduringthe
annual “Round the Bays” road race. Later
Ihead down to the waterfront to check out
SteveFossett’snew multi-million dollar
catamaran.
The next day I am piloting one of six
balloonsflyingoverAuckland,inpart
celebrating Breitling Orbiter 3’s success-
fularound-the-worldflight.Ilandina
park and spend the next hour giving tether
ridestoresidentsofthearea.Sixty-six
people and one teddy beargo up.Thelittle
girlwiththe teddywantedtogobutnot
without teddy. She went home to retrieve
the little guy. Both hadbig smiles.
Anotherpassengerwasanelderly
woman.Wheninvitedforaflightshe
said,“If my husband was here he wouldn’t
let me go. He isn’t here andI am going.”
With that she wasinthebasketquickly.
After the ride she thanked me very much.
“Ihavewantedtodothisallmylife.”
There were many happy faces this glori-
ous morning.Thisis whatballooningis
all about, sharing the joy with others.
Withanumberofvisitinginterna-

tionalaeronautsintowntheAuckland
balloonist hosted a party.Richard Turnbull
ofEnglandandBrianBolandfromthe
U.S. bothentertainedthe gatheringwith
stories from their amazing flying careers.
Richard is in town flyingAction Man, the
BritishGIJoeknockoffspecialshape.
Brian,notonlyheadingtotheeventin
Hamiltonwherehiswife isfrom, deliv-
ered a new Boland Balloon for our Auck-
land host, RossSale.
Thefollowingmorningitisoffto
HamiltonandtheWaikato.Duringthe
nextfivedaysthetenballoonteamsre-
ceive a warm and supportive welcome. In
return they providethearea witha great
ballooning show. Five morning fun flights,
twoeveningballoonglows, andnumer-
ous school presentations.
Oursecondday,weheaduptothe
smallcommunityofHuntly.Huntly
organizerswantedtheballoonstoflyin
theirtown as part ofthe festivities and had
raisedfundstoho stthem.Whilethe
weatherwasabitbreezythisday,six
balloons didfly, mostly over anarea that
had never been flown by balloons before.
MattAndersonlandedneara tinycom-
munityandafter packingup wenttothe
local school to put ona show. Part of his
demonstrationwasinflatinghisBoland
homebuilt in the schools all-purposeroom.
The kids lovedit.
Myown flightinHuntly isanother
storyfor another issue,a futureHangar
Flying.Let’sjustsaythatIreceiveda
special“Dipstick”awardb eforethe
eveningballoon glow.
While some flights did contest flying
skills, the event was more of a lowkey fun
fly. The emphasis on having fun and thank-
ing the region for its support. Every day a
different part of the community hosted at
least one party for the pilotsand crew, all
the crew. Parties included outdoor barbe-
cues,aprivateluncheon,andevening
suppercompletewithlive music,danc-
ing, and special presentments. Each visit-
ingballoonteamreceivedafreemotel
room,propane,invitationsforpilotand
allcrew tosixparties,engravedmedals
for pilot and each of four crew members,
and $500 in travel vouchers. Never before
in thehistory of ballooning in NewZealand
have balloonistsbeen treatedthiswell.
The Mayor ofHamiltoninvitedthe
balloonists to a private meeting and tea in
hischamberstodiscusswhathadhap-
pened to the former Hamilton event, take
feedback,andsetanewcourseforthe

future of balloon events in Hamilton. The
discussion was open and frank. The com-
munity, as a result of this week, has moved
forwardwithnewinsightandcommit-
ment to make sure that the Waikato region
has a premier balloon event within which
all will be proudto take part.
Coming to the Waikatois more than
just flying. During the day there is ample
opportunitytovisitthesurroundingre-
gion and take in the wonders of this beau-
tifulcountry.Rotorua,aboutanhour’s
drive east,is builton oneof the world’s
most active volcanic zones. Boiling mud
and hot springs, spurting geysers, steam-
ingterracesof sulfurandcolorfulsilica
deposits—even puddles-bubble. This city
ishometotheMaoriArtsandCrafts
Institute,a place of timelessculturethat
teaches young men andwomen of Maori
descent the arts and crafts of their ances-
tors. In the evening you can enjoy a Hangi
feast (traditional Maori food) and concert,
includingthetraditionaldances. Alsoin
theareaarefarmswithsheepshearing
demonstrations.
SouthofHamiltonisWaitomoand
the Glow-worm Caves, a grottocontain-
ingthousandsofglow-wormlarvaeall
sendingtheirluminousglowfromthe
cave roof. While you can visit the cave in
a tour boat, the adventurous don wet suits
and tubthrough the cave.
Further southisLake Taupo, a blue
pristinelakesethighinthemountains.
Several hours drive to the northeast is the
CoromandelPeninsulawithHotWater
Beach. Here hot springs seep through the
sands—you scoopout a hole for anindi-
vidual thermal pool at the edge of the blue
waters of the SouthPacific.
As beautiful as the country is, it is the
people whomake New Zealandspecial.
Everywhere I found the people warm and
friendly.
Beforethe firstflightinHamiltonI
wasinterviewedbyNewZealandTV.
When asked if I was disappointed to have
traveled so far and only ten balloons were
flying instead of the expected 30 plus my
response was, “The fact there are only ten
balloons innowaydiminishestheplea-
sureofflyingandjoywebringtothis
community.”

Balloons over Waikato 2000 will be
held April 12-16, 2000. For more infor-
ma tion visi t o n t he Int er net http ://
h o me p a g e s .i h u g . c o .n z / ~ it s - t ec h /
bow2000.htm